asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the total amount of money paid to industry by the IDA, by way of capital grants, since its inception.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - IDA Grants.
24.
As I indicated in reply to a similar question on 25 October last, full information about grants paid by the Industrial Development Authority is published in the authority's annual reports, copies of which are presented to the Oireachtas. Final figures for 1979 are not yet available but these will also be published in accordance with the established practice.
Is the Minister saying that, instead of requiring his civil servants to supply this information, he will put the onus of work on the over-worked librarians of this House to chase up the simple information I looked for?
Or the Deputy.
In the light of the rise in unemployment figures, would the Minister accept that we are getting value from this money being handed out by the IDA?
Excellent value.
In spite of the unemployment figures?
The unemployment figures are relatively good.
Question No. 25. We are not dealing with unemployment figures.
This country is the only country in the Community in which net industrial employment is increasing.
Would the Minister accept that many of these grant-aided industries may be putting people out of work?
Their principal purpose is to create employment.
I suppose it would be too much to ask if the Minister has any indication of the amount of profit which has been made by those industries which have been grant-aided by the IDA over the past 20 years.
That is a separate question.
It is completely separate. Some of them are quite profitable and some, unfortunately, are not.
The Minister said that the employment situation here was quite good. Does the Minister regard as satisfactory job losses of 2,000 per month on average?
That does not arise on this question.
We know there is a vast difference between job creation and jobs on the ground.
I am sorry to disappoint the Deputy but——
We will not have argument on this matter. Question No. 25.
(Interruptions.)
Would the Minister say in relation to unemployment when "relatively good" becomes tolerable?
We are not dealing with unemployment on this question.
The question relates to the total amount of money paid to industry by the IDA since its inception.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
The question has nothing to do with unemployment. I have called the next question.
I wish to ask a supplementary question which arises from the Minister's reply.
The Chair has already said the matter does not arise on this question.
At what stage does the situation regarding unemployment become tolerable?
It is particularly gratifying to know how much more satisfactory the situation regarding unemployment is today compared to three years ago.
Three years ago unemployment was falling in these months.
(Interruptions.)